Katie Price has been criticised by animal charity PETA after purchasing a new puppy in Dubai, just days after two of her cats went missing from her home in England. The former model shared on 28 June that she and her husband Lee Andrews had become "proud parents" of a "baby boy" after spending £2,000 on a pomsky puppy. However, PETA quickly condemned the move, renewing calls for Price to be banned from keeping pets.
PETA's Response and Call for Ban
In a statement to the Daily Mail, PETA UK Senior Vice President Mimi Beckechi described Price's decision as a "new low" and urged authorities to intervene. "While one of her cats, Doris, is reportedly still missing, instead of being worried sick and out searching for her, as any caring, responsible guardian would, she has flown to another country and acquired a new dog, as easily as one replaces a pair of socks," Beckechi said. She added that it "added insult to injury" that Price chose a pomsky, a cross between a Pomeranian and a Siberian Husky, which is ill-suited to Dubai's extreme heat. PETA also reiterated its offer of £5,000 to Price if she agrees never to buy another pet.
History of Pet Losses
Price has a history of pets dying under her care. At least eight animals are believed to have died, including her German Shepherd Blade, who was hit by a car in 2023 near her East Sussex home, months after her Pomeranian Sharon died in a similar accident. In 2022, another German Shepherd, Queenie, was also struck by a vehicle. In 2020, her dog Sparkle was killed on the same road, and a horse died after escaping from a field in 2017. Her French bulldog Rolo died in 2020 after being trapped under an electric chair, a gift to her daughter Princess. A family chameleon died in 2018, and in 2024, her sphynx cat Frog was euthanised at five months old due to a neurological condition.
Public Outcry and Previous Incidents
Meg Matthews also criticised Price, sharing a photo of the new puppy and fuming: "Why buy a puppy when you don't live in Dubai? Huskys are hard to train." Price has also given away pets, including a French Bulldog to a crew member in 2021 and another puppy years earlier. PETA's 2024 letter to Price stated: "While your intentions may be good, the ever-growing number of animals who have either died under your supervision or been given away is impossible to ignore, and people are rightly concerned." The Mirror has sought comment from Price's representatives.
